Podcast Fanatic's episode of the week

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Episode of the week #3 - week ending 6 May 2007

Podcasting, unlike more traditional media, allows people the luxury of not being a slave to the clock which seems to have resulted in the phenomenon that entertaining, short podcasts are somewhat of a rarity. Myths and Mysteries is one exception to the rule and this week?s episode, Alligators and Crocodiles, is a particularly great example. In 2 minutes and 14 seconds the hosts dispel the myths about salt versus fresh water, inform listeners that next time you?re facing down a large reptile you need to look closely at the width of the snout and the size of the upper jaw to know if it?s an alligator or a crocodile and throw in a corny joke that to make you groan chuckle.

My only gripe with this show is that its online presence is annoyingly replete with broken links which means you have to subscribe to listen but I think it?s worth it.

http://podcasts.freedigitalcontent.com/myth.xml (podcast feed URL)

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Episode of the week #4 - week ending 13 May 2007

For those who have yet to discover the delights of Mark Hunter's musical selections I recommend you start with this week's episode of the Mellow Monday Show (http://mellowmonday.thepodcastnetwork.com/) (#31). In a mere 30 minutes of audio there are six outstandingly beautiful tracks by independent artists interspersed with just the right amount of personal chat from Mark and a listener email reminding us that great music has healing powers. Music podcasts do not get better than this.

Apart from the one track I can't find available for sale anywhere I have bought all the tracks featured on this episode. When was the last time 30 minutes of mainstream radio had that kind of effect on you? It warrants repeating: music podcasts do not get better than this.

Mellow Monday Show Website (http://mellowmonday.thepodcastnetwork.com/)
podcast fanatic's episode of the week (http://podcastfanatic.wordpress.com/episode-of-the-week/)

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episode of the week #5 - atomic suburbia #00

One of my favourite podcasts ceased production a couple of weeks ago but, to my delight, it was re-born this week in a new, improved and more psychedelic show called Atomic Suburbia (http://www.atomicsuburbia.com/). For old fans host Daryl Cognito used episode zero to demonstrate that the new show will provide a comfortably familiar mixture of politics, news headlines, comedy and the occasional rant. Importantly Daryl also showed there will be some great new features such as a regular music segment, commentary on Daryl's favourite comic strips and a developing picture of what it means to be Canadian. It's encouraging to see one of the pioneers of podcasting step out of the relative comfort of a successful show to try something new and I for one can't wait to go on the journey.

atomic suburbia website (http://www.atomicsuburbia.com/)
podcast fanatic's episode of the week (http://podcastfanatic.wordpress.com/episode-of-the-week/)

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episode of the week #6 - WrightRoad Radio #40

As an Aussie I have been somewhat bemused, and if I'm being totally honest a little bored, by the significant quantity of podwaves devoted to the discussion of the death of someone who's had zero impact on my life: Jerry Falwell. In fact I fast-forwarded through most of the podcasts that discussed this topic for more than a minute or two but found myself intrigued by James Wright and Damon Rexroad's discussion of Falwell on episode 40 of WrightRoad Radio (http://www.wrightroadradio.com/). In what seemed to me to be a completely unplanned and spontaneous chat between two old friends with somewhat different religious beliefs the guys tackled the subject of Falwell's beliefs and their portrayal by the media and whether or not being glad he is dead makes one a 'bad person'. It feels like there's no place for mature debate and/or agreeing to disagree in the media these days so it was refreshing to hear a lively, sometimes uncomfortable, definitely politically incorrect conversation about important issues that didn't result in a screaming match or someone being fired.

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episode of the week #7 - 1 June episode of Today in Music History (http://todayinmusichistory.thepodcastnetwork.com/)

I love trivia: the more useless the information the longer I'm likely to remember it. Brian Ibbot, of Coverville fame, hosts Today in Music History each weekday and provides me with great (if useless) trivia such as the fact that Jack White got married in a canoe in the Amazon in 2005. I cannot remember my mobile phone number to save my life but I will remember Jack White's wedding location forever. Thanks Brian. If, like me, you like music trivia and/or well-produced short podcasts you should check out Today in Music History.

Today in Music History (http://todayinmusichistory.thepodcastnetwork.com/)
podcast fanatic's episode of the week (http://podcastfanatic.wordpress.com/episode-of-the-week/)

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Episode of the week #8 - episode 82 of You Are The Guest

In all my hours of podcast listening I haven't come across too many really good amateur interview shows. It's not because I haven't been looking for them. I have. Rather I suspect it's because there aren't too many out there. Interviewing people successfully is a deceptively difficult skill to develop.

Bill Grady does a fine job of interviewing on this week's episode of You Are The Guest (http://www.youaretheguest.com/) in which he talks to Alabama-based American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyer Lynndi Maddox. It's always pretty clear which side of political the fence Bill?s sitting on when he interviews a guest but, as always, he's unfailingly polite, well-researched and, most importantly of all, actually listens to the answers his guest gives thereby turning a standard 'talking points' style Q & A into a conversation. It's that last point that a lot of the amateurs I've listened to, and more than a few so-called professionals, leave out of the equation. What I particularly liked about this week's episode is that Bill's guest is as composed and articulate as Bill which made the interview seem like a fairer fight than some of this other episodes. They discuss some interesting cases that made Lynndi famous and chat about the various potential American presidential candidates.

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episode of the week #9 - episode 95 of Podflix

It might be reasonable to expect that a review of a 76 year old film might lack a certain spark. However, in the case of the review of the 1931 Fritz Lang movie M on episode 95 of Podflix (http://www.podflixshow.com/) that expectation would be unfounded. Hosts Willy, Nish and Paul give such a great summary of the movie and show such obvious enthusiasm for it that I was prompted to walk 5km in the near freezing cold (2 degrees Celsius) to my nearest classic movie rental store and demand a copy for my immediate viewing pleasure. So-called professional movie reviewers never have that effect on me.

In addition to giving a great review the guys continue announcing their respective lists of top 25 movies of all time (sought after spots 19-17 feature this week). I am enjoying the anticipation of this aspect of the show.